KLEM News AM Update December 10, 2010

Local Option Sales Tax Advisory Board members are needed from three of the five Supervisor districts in Plymouth County. The terms are for three years.

The vacancies are in geographic areas represented by District Three Supervisor Don Kass of rural Remsen; District Four Supervisor Craig Anderson of rural Merrill; and District Five Supervisor Jim Henrich of Akron.

Those who live in the districts and are interested in being appointed may fill out applications to be returned to the Board of Supervisors at the Plymouth County Auditor's office at the Courthouse in Le Mars.

The deadline to apply is December 30th. The appointments are expected to be made at the first meeting in 2011 when the Board of Supervisors meets to reorganize for the New Year.

NOTICE FROM PLYMOUTH COUNTY:

The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will be taking applications to fill 3volunteer positions to serve the Plymouth County Local Option Sales Tax AdvisoryBoard for 2011. You must a Plymouth County resident living in Supervisor District#3, #4, or #5 and willing serve a 3 year term.The applications may be picked up in the Auditor’s office at 215 4th Ave. SE, LeMars, IA. or downloaded from the Plymouth County website www.co.plymouth.ia.usand are due on Thursday, December 30, 2010. They can be delivered to the Auditor’soffice or they can be mailed to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors at 215 4thAve. SE, Le Mars, IA 51031 and must be postmarked by Thursday, December 30,2010.

Fire fighters completed the call around 4 p.m. Everyone in the home was able to get out safely.

"Hope" auction Saturday raises funds to help children

(LE MARS)--A Le Mars family will help bring "Hope" to children in Siouxland at the 75th annual Little Yellow Dog auction Saturday. "Hope" is the three-month old black minature schnauzer waiting to be adopted by the highest bidder. The Bruce and Terri Brock family of Le Mars provides the auction services. Bruce Brock of Brock Auction Company in Le Mars says it's a great feeling to be able to give back to the effort that supports Mr. Goodfellow Charities.

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This year's bidders will have to top the 20-thousand dollars a Yorkshire terrier, Holly Berry, raised in 2009. KLEM News asked Brock about pushing and pulling for bids at the charity event.

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Often parents buy the dog for younger children.

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He describes the auction slated for noon tomorrow (Saturday) at the Terra Centre Atrium as a combination of a lot of fun things. The Siouxland All-American Band plays, there've been presentations by hosts Don Stone, Dave Nixon and now Powell Broadcasting's Randy Renshaw and time to show off the dog being auctioned. Brock points out the fundraising for children's toys and books effort goes beyond the auction.

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The Brocks' neighbor, auctioneer Harold Ruden, had been called the "Grand Growler" of the Little Yellow Dog Auction and asked Bruce to take over as Ruden retired in the late 1990s.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, limited information is being provided to the public while efforts continue to repair the system following the lightning strike earlier this year.

Weather reports from the Storm Lake location are not available to air traffic control, flight service stations, the National Weather Service and other reporting services.

Weather reporting through a local phone line and radio frequencies for pilots continues to function.

The Storm Lake automated weather observing system is one of 43 throughout the state maintained by the transportation department. The systems are known as AWOS and one is located at the Le Mars Airport.

Iowa Republican chairman Strawn will seek 2nd term

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn says he'll seek a second term leading the state GOP and doesn't expect any opposition.

Strawn announced his plans Thursday, saying the Republican State Central Committee likely will choose him when it meets in January.

If he's selected, it will be the first time in eight years that a state Republican chairman served more than one term. Strawn says that stability would help the party as it heads into the 2012 presidential election.

Strawn also expressed support for the party's high-profile straw poll in August. Some candidates skipped the event in the last caucus campaign, arguing it was merely a way for the state party to raise money.

Branstad appoints Palmer and Miller-Meeks

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov.-elect Terry Branstad has appointed a former director of the Department of Human Services to again head the agency and has chosen a former Republican congressional candidate to lead the Department of Public Health.

Branstad appointed Chuck Palmer as director of the Department of Human Services, a position he held from 1989 to 1999. DHS is the state's largest agency, with 5,500 workers.

Branstad picked Ottumwa ophthalmologist Mariannette Miller-Meeks as public health director. She twice ran for the U.S. House in Iowa's 2nd District, losing both times to Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack.

She's a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves and served as the first woman president of the Iowa Medical Society.

The Department of Public Health works with local health organizations, lawmakers, providers and businesses on health issues.

Iowa regents, presidents back sabbatical requests

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Dozens of professors at Iowa's public universities will get time off from teaching this year to pursue research projects under a plan approved by the Iowa Board of Regents.

Meeting by telephone, regents on Thursday approved requests by the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University to give sabbaticals to 95 professors during the budget year beginning July 1.

Most of the leaves will last one semester and give professors time to research everything from cochlear implants to free speech. Professors will visit research sites, write books and publish articles.

Republican leaders of the Iowa House have proposed cancelling sabbaticals to save money.

But regents and university presidents said the ``professional development assignments'' are worth the cost, which is estimated at $422,000 to hire replacement teachers.

Board approves Gibson as UNI's acting president

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) University of Northern Iowa Provost Gloria Gibson will serve as acting president starting in February while President Ben Allen takes time off for cancer treatment.

The Iowa Board of Regents on Thursday confirmed Gibson's appointment, which was recommended last month by Board President David Miles.

Gibson is expected to run the school for four to six weeks while Allen recovers from surgery to treat early stage prostate cancer.

Allen, who has been UNI's president since 2006, announced his diagnosis last month after a routine physical exam. He said doctors expect him to have a full recovery.

Ames residents upset at proposed sports complex

AMES, Iowa (AP) Some Ames residents are upset with plans by Iowa State University to build a nearly $11 million sports complex for the Cyclones' soccer, track and softball teams.

The Tribune says more than 150 neighbors who live near the proposed site met with ISU officials on Wednesday, with many complaining about the lack of notification about the project.

Athletic director Jamie Pollard says the university didn't intentionally try to eliminate input from the neighborhood.

The Iowa Board of Regents gave Iowa State the go-ahead for the planning and the design phase in October. Construction is to start in June.

The university's Warren Madden says ISU hadn't been able to schedule a meeting with neighbors until Wednesday.

Residents are concerned about storm-sewer drainage, setbacks from housing, fencing and aesthetics.

Iowan says he had money for contribution to Culver

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A Fort Dodge businessman accused of illegally donating $25,000 to Gov. Chet Culver's re-election campaign in the name of another says he had the money to cover the donation.

The Des Moines Register says Steve Daniel testified in a court hearing Wednesday that he had $30,000 in his checking account. His testimony highlights a defense contention that prosecutors failed to provide any specific evidence of illegal activity.

Daniels is among four men and two casino groups accused of illegally contributing to Culver's campaign in 2009. The hearing in Polk County District Court was on a variety of motions.

The trial, which had been set for Jan. 5, is now slated for June 20 after attorneys asked for more time to prepare.

Iowa mom, daughter plead guilty in eye gouging

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) A Waterloo woman and her mother have pleaded guilty in an attack on another woman who almost had her eyes gouged out.